Verbena macdougalii
New Mexican verbena, MacDougal verbena
Verbena tenuisecta
Moss verbena
Verbenaceae – Vervain family
Description
Verbena bracteata is a small, low-growing, spreading annual or short-lived perennial. The leaves of this plant are deeply lobed and form oppositely along ridged stems. The entire plant is hairy. The flower spikes are long and composed mostly of leaf-like bracts. The flowers are small and pinkish-purple. Verbena gooddingii is a low-growing, clump-forming short-lived perennial. The leaves are arranged oppositely along conspicuously angled stems. They are triangular and deeply lobed or serrated. The stems and leaves are hairy. The light-purple flower clusters form at branch ends; each flower, as with other Verbenas, is 5-lobed, 2-lipped, tubular and held within a tubular 5-toothed calyx.
Verbena macdougalii is a 2-4 foot tall perennial. It is a stately appearing plant compared to others in the genera. The oblong-ovate shaped leaves are serrated and hairy and arranged oppositely on the plant’s ridged stems. The flowers are arranged in upright spikes on the upper stem ends. The individual flowers are small, purplish and similar in characteristic to other Verbenas. Verbena tenuisecta is a low-growing, mounding annual or short-lived perennial. The leaves are finely divided and small. The laterally shaped flower clusters, depending on variety are pink, purple, red and other colors. It is a popular garden and nursery plant in warmer parts of the west.
Distribution
At varying elevations, Verbena bracteata is wildly distributed nearly throughout the entire country. Look to disturbed, moist soils, around cattle tanks, sumps and bottomlands. Verbena gooddingii is found from nearly sea level to 6,000 feet. It is common in disturbed land, along drainages, mesas and on rocky slopes. The plant ranges from California to Nevada, Utah, south and east to Arizona, New Mexico and southern Texas. Verbena macdougalii is found from Wyoming to west Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Throughout the arid southwest, the plant is found at higher elevations (5,000-8,500 feet), lower in elevation in more northerly locals. Look to open Ponderosa pine forests and grassy meadows. Verbena tenuisecta is a common cultivated ornamental, originally from South America. Occasionally it is an escape where some moisture is afforded. More often it is found in garden beds, landscaped and in nurseries.
Chemistry
Anthocyanines; flavonoids: naringenin and eriodictyol; trierpenoids
Medicinal Uses
Verbena is a sedative of mild strength. Its calming effects are useful in nervousness, anxiety and tension. Moreover, Verbena can be effective in reliving stress headaches with associated neck and upper back related tension. It is a good herb for individuals whose digestive process is impaired through chronic work or life related stresses. Through the plant’s bitterness and its countering effect on sympathetic-adrenaline discharge, digestion and assimilation are enhanced, as are other parasympathetic functions.
Verbena is a reliable diaphoretic. A warming feeling in the stomach can be felt after taking a small amount of the fresh plant tincture. It then slowly radiates outward. If feverish and dry skinned Verbena stimulate diaphoresis. In addition, like most other diaphoretic herbs if there is not a fever then Verbena will be diuretic. The plant is also stimulating to lactation as are other Vervain family plants, particularly its relative Chaste tree. Verbena may have some modulating effect on the neurotransmitter dopamine and the hormone prolactin. This combined with the plants sedative nature will be of help to stressed mothers who cannot produce enough milk for their child.
Some Verbenas have small but inconsistent amounts of cardiac glycosides. Occasionally in sensitive individuals, this can cause the heart to slow and strengthen. The effect is rare but has been noticed.
Collection
Gather the upper herbaceous portions of Verbena. Snip the individual stems down to where several sets of leaves are remaining. Lay out to dry or tincture fresh.
Preparations and Dosage
FPT/DPT: 30-60 drops 3 times daily
Herb infusion: 4-6 ounces 3 time daily
Cautions
Sensitive individuals may develop contact dermatitis from collecting the plant. Do not use during pregnancy due to Verbena’s potential effect on prolactin levels.